NBA

With the latest news about Carmelo Anthony and Oklahoma City is the big news of the day. About two weeks ago, Carmelo opted in to his $27.9 million-dollar contract. This move was expected as with his salary would cost the Thunder about $300 million dollars. Russell Westbrook and Paul George played much better when they were on the floor without Anthony. While Carmelo Anthony isn’t the same player he was from a couple years ago, he still could help the right team out. With Carmelo Anthony likely to take a buyout, what will be the best fit for his services?

Portland Trailblazers

When rumors were leaked that the Knicks were ready to unload Carmelo, this was my choice. If he were to accept his role being the 3rd scorer, this is a perfect situation for Carmelo. Portland finished third in the Western Conference last year but was swept out of the first round. Damian Lilard played awful and C.J. McCollum was the only other option for Portland. The trio of Lilard, McCollum and Anthony won’t win a championship, but they will compete with Golden State, Houston, Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City and New Orleans. Would Carmelo be willing to relocate to the Pacific Northwest? If so, would he be open to accept being the 3rd option?

Indiana Pacers

Indiana had a great season last year and Victor Oladipo took his game to another level. During the offseason, they lost Lance Stevenson and Trevor Booker, two key players of last year’s team. In free agency, they added Tyreke Evans, Doug McDermott and Kyle O’Quinn to this impressive roster. If the Indiana Pacers were to add a Carmelo Anthony, they would be one of the favorites in the Eastern Conference. With their depth, they could challenge the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors. By adding Anthony, this would be one of the more deeper rosters, but what would his role be?

Houston Rockets

Houston is another perfect situation for Carmelo Anthony. With the loss of Trevor Ariza to free agency, Carmelo could be their starting small forward. Carmelo could add more scoring power to one of the best offenses in the league. Remember this Houston team was one win away from reaching the NBA Finals, but Chris Paul missed the final two games. If the Rockets are going to have another wonderful year, they still need to find a way to sign Clint Capela.

Los Angeles Lakers

Ever since Carmelo and Lebron entered the league together, people have wondered how they would play together. The Lakers have a young team, but they recently signed Lance Stephenson and Rajon Rondo, but they could add another scorer. If the Lakers were to add Carmelo, would he accept a role coming off the bench? The loss of Julius Randall is key to me because he’s one of the more promising power forwards in the league.

Miami Heat

The big question is Miami has to be, will Dwyane Wade return? If Wade were to return and Hassan Whiteside play to his potential, Miami could be a sleeper in the East with Carmelo. Since Lebron has moved to the West, the Eastern Conference will be open for the taking. It has been rumored that Miami is one of the teams he’s talked to since Oklahoma City have given him the okay.

Philadelphia 76ers

The 76ers were said to be close to landing Lebron during free agency. Would they take their chance at going after Carmelo Anthony? Honestly, Carmelo’s game would fit the 76ers perfectly as he’s playing alongside Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. The 76ers, Celtics and Raptors could be fighting for the top spot all year, but the Pacers could be sleepers. If the 76ers were to sign Carmelo, he could finally get a chance to play in the NBA Finals. All of this hinder on the 76ers are still rumored to be one of the teams looking to add Kawhi Leonard.

Where do you see Carmelo playing next year? Where would you like to see him play next year? Leave a comment below about anything related to Carmelo Anthony below.

Devin Booker will be part of the Phoenix Suns organization for the foreseeable future. Devin Booker has just signed a 5-year max extension with the Suns for $158 million dollars. Saying he is “humbled” and “honored,” guard Devin Booker signed a five-year, $158 million maximum contract extension with the Phoenix Suns on Saturday. The team announced the completion of the deal, and Booker tweeted about it as well.

I am humbled & honored to commit to the Suns organization long term. I loved calling Phoenix home the last 3 seasons as this team & community are special to me. Thank you to the Suns for drafting me and believing in me. I look forward to the future & pursuing a title as a Sun. pic.twitter.com/AHRaraPww6

The 21-year-old has become one of the best scorers in the NBA today. The sad part is that he hasn’t had much help and that’s why they ended up with the worse record in the league. The 2018 NBA Draft was good to the Phoenix Suns though and it seems like they’re turning things around. With the #1 draft pick, they selected DeAndre Ayton and made a trade for Makil Bridges, the future looks bright. Ayton is projected to be a guy that has instant impact and Makil Bridges is someone I’m very high on. They added a veteran presence by signing Trevor Ariza to a one-year deal go with their lottery pick, Josh Jackson from last year.

In 2017, Booker became the first player in franchise history to score 70 points, doing so against the Boston Celtics in a March 24 game. Booker was 20 years, 145 days old at the time of his 70-point night, making him the youngest player in NBA history to score 60 or more points in a game.

Booker averaged 24.9 points per game in his third NBA season. He has been general manager Ryan McDonough’s most decorated draft pick in Phoenix, taken as a freshman out of Kentucky who dropped to No. 13 in the 2015 NBA draft.

Do you see the Suns as a team of the future? What do you think about the signing of Devin Booker? Leave a comment below about anything related to the Suns or Devin Booker.

DeMarcus Cousins is headed to the Golden State Warriors. In a shocking move, the Warriors inked the All-Star big man to a 1-year, $5.3 million-dollar contract. Of course, Cousins is still rehabbing his ruptured Achilles Heel. Many thought the New Orleans Pelicans or Los Angeles Lakers were the front runners for his services. When Cousins returns from injury, Golden State will have five All-Stars in their starting lineup. Cousins, who averaged 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists and shot 35.4 percent on 3-pointers last season in 48 games, told The Undefeated’s Marc J. Spears he was confused and hurt that he had no offers, even from the Pelicans. Cousins told Spears that he called his agent and they discussed various options, including the Warriors, who lost center JaVale McGee in free agency to the Los Angeles Lakers.

When I questioned where Cousins should go, Golden State wasn’t thought of. On Monday, Cousins called Warriors president of basketball operations Bob Myers to discuss joining the team. “This is my ace of spades,” Cousins said. “This is my chess move.” After the details had been discussed, Cousins said he had “great” conversations with Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green, all of whom were his teammates on Team USA. “Every guy was excited,” he said. The conversations sealed the deal, Cousins said, and he called Myers around 8 p.m. ET to say he would sign. Golden State used its taxpayer midlevel exception to reach a deal with Cousins, who underwent surgery in late January to repair the torn Achilles. He has been rehabilitating the injury and told Spears he is aiming to be recovered by training camp.

The move gives Cousins an outstanding chance to recover from his injury, show he is healthy and rejoin the free-agent market next summer. This year’s market had dried up on Cousins, who struggled to find a team willing to give him a long-term contract at the kind of max-level salary that he would’ve received prior to the injury. Curry welcomed his new teammate on Twitter shortly after the news broke.

Nikola Jokic has reached agreement on a five-year, $147 million maximum contract with the franchise, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

The Nuggets made Jokic a restricted free agent by declining his team option Monday, with the sides planning to agree to a five-year extension. Denver and Jokic’s representatives had planned to reach an agreement upon the outset of free agency, league sources said.

Jokic has become one of the NBA’s brightest young stars, a 6-foot-10 big man able to shoot from long range, handle the ball, pass, rebound and finish in the paint. The Nuggets’ selection of Jokic with the No. 41 pick in the 2014 NBA draft is a reflection of the franchise’s scouting under president of basketball operations Tim Connelly, and the center’s development as a near All-Star is a testament to the work of Jokic and the organization.

Jokic helped lead the Nuggets to a playoff push this past season, finishing 46-36 and losing to Minnesota in essentially a play-in game on the last night of the regular season. He recorded 10 triple-doubles on the season and continued to emerge as a leader alongside young Nuggets Jamal Murray and Gary Harris.

Jokic, a native of Serbia, played for KK Mega Bemax from 2012-15 before signing a four-year rookie contract with the Nuggets.

This was expected because Jokic is one of the most underrated players in the league. With him playing in Denver, many people don’t get to follow him. He’s one of the key pieces in Denver that’s building towards the future. They finished 9th in the tough Western Conference as Minnesota edged them out on the final day of the season. Jokic is one of the best shooting and passing big men in the league. If Michael Porter Jr. is healthy this year, Denver should make the playoffs.

It’s official! Lebron James join the Lakers on a 4-year deal worth around $153 million contract. The announcement was made through his agency, Klutch Sports Group, which announced the deal as $154 million. The deal came two days after informing Cleveland he’s opting out of his deal. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that the fourth year is a player option. It’s the longest deal James has signed since inking a six-year contract with the Miami Heat in 2010. His previous three deals were three years or shorter. James leaves his hometown team as a free agent for the second time in his career. Four years ago, James had stated his intention to finish his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Whether the four-time MVP and 14-time All-Star does that or not, he certainly has left his mark on his city.

James thanked his home area in an Instagram story. He wrote in text overlaying a photo from the Cavaliers’ 2016 NBA title victory parade, “Thank you Northeast Ohio for an incredible 4 seasons. This will always be home.” He delivered the first championship to the sports-obsessed city in 52 years and did so with storybook gusto, helping the Cavaliers become the first team in NBA Finals history to rally from a 3-1 series deficit to win it all. The team he took down, the Golden State Warriors, had the best regular-season record in league history, at 73-9. “Words do not express the meaning and the feeling this accomplishment brought to the people of Northeast Ohio,” Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert said in a lengthy statement thanking James. “None of this would have happened if LeBron James did not agree to come back home and lead the Cavaliers to the promised land.

“LeBron is a family man, first. We wish his kids, his wife, Savannah, his mother, Gloria, and LeBron himself nothing but the best in the years and decades ahead. LeBron’s connection to Akron, Cleveland and all of Northeast Ohio will most certainly endure as his commitment to the region and his support of many important causes has been impactful to so many kids and families. “LeBron, you came home and delivered the ultimate goal. Nothing but appreciation and gratitude for everything you put into every moment you spent in a Cavaliers uniform. We look forward to the retirement of the famous #23 Cavs jersey one day down the line …” James leaves the Cavaliers franchise as its leader in nearly every major statistical category: games played, points, rebounds, assists and steals.

When Lebron landed in Los Angeles after his vacation, it felt like he would sign with the Lakers. Let’s face it, Magic Johnson can sell damn near anything to anybody. With the addition of Lebron, some are skeptical on how the team will perform with Lebron. Since Lebron has signed, the Lakers have signed JaVale McGee, Lance Stephenson and re-signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. If the Lakers don’t come up with a deal for Kawhi Leonard, this could still be the fourth or fifth best team out West. When you put Lebron with Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle and Lonzo Ball, this is a good team. We can all expect the stars to be at the first game at home in Los Angeles.